Page 16 of Her Arranged Alpha
He gave me another fake laugh. "Oh, I'm well aware of the fact that you're not one of my people. My people actually listen when I tell them to do something. You, on the other hand, just do whatever the hell you want."
"I suppose that's the difference between you and Frank's pack. We have a voice at least."
I watched his face shift, knowing I had plucked a nerve.
His voice deepened. "I at least didn't try killing my alpha and his wife."
It was always going to come back to that, wasn't it? My entire future was going to come back to a moment I had no control over. I had to watch just like everyone else. I didn't get a say when my hands were trying to hurt the people I cared so much about.
I chewed on my cheek, glaring at him. My hands curled into fists.
He tilted his head. "No comeback?"
"Out of all the Alphas, you're the worst." It was the only thing I could think of, but I knew it would irritate him.
I turned and stepped into my room, slamming the door. But I heard him move closer, and then I listened to the sound of a click. I turned and looked back at the door. He'd locked it. He'd locked me inside.
I curled my hands into fists.
"I also turned my house security on so you won't be slipping out of the window like before," Maddox said, and I turned, looking at the window. It was shut, and my sheets frombefore lay in a pile in front of the door. The room suddenly felt like a prison.
I swallowed, feeling tears build up. I knew I wasn't getting out a third time. Tears broke free, and I wiped at my eyes, trying to stop any more from breaking free. I didn't want to fall apart, not when he could hear me.
I hated this feeling of being locked in like an animal. I took a slow breath in and closed my eyes, trying to calm my fast-beating heart.
I was fine. I could figure this out. I just needed a little sleep. Once I sleep, I can figure out my next step. This was just a small bump in the road to my freedom. I could still do this.
Sleep. I needed sleep above everything else. I could figure something out. Once I get rest, I could wake up tomorrow with a fresh mindset.
I shook my head, forcing the tears away. I took a slow breath in and bent over, grabbing the sheets. I untied them and threw them back onto the bed. I crawled under the sheets after I was done and relaxed into a pillow. I stared outside the window, taking in the woods in the distance.
I couldn't deny that it was a good thing that Maddox came for me. I wouldn't have been able to defend myself against that many people. Really, would I even be able to protect myself against one?
I rolled over, shoving my face into my pillow. My mind traveled back to how his hands felt against me, how he cradled me as he took me up the stairs, and how he held me tightly as he walked us back into the woods. I had forgotten about the dark, forgotten about the danger.
I rolled over and stared at my ceiling. I left my light on, not wanting to be in the dark again.
My mind always traveled back to that day. I stood over Frank, feeling pure rage to hurt him. I knew it wasn't my emotions. I cared about Frank and Nina. Nina, who had been nothing but sweet to me. Who had been my friend and stood by me.
And I'd hurt them. I'd attacked them, fully intending to kill them. I hated knowing it was my hands that did it.
I rolled over, staring at the door. I chewed on my cheek, rubbing my fingers together nervously. My mind was a mess, going through twenty different areas all at once. I hated it.
I don't know how I fell asleep, but I soon felt myself drifting off.
Chapter 7 - Maddox
I don't like having to keep Jillian locked in her room, but I couldn't think of anything else to do. She had made it clear that I couldn't trust her. She snuck out of the window, for God's sake. I knew just how hard that was to do.
I sat in front of the door, my arms crossed as I stared at the plate that I had sitting in front of it. I had knocked on the door four times already, telling her I had food for her. But I had a feeling she was ignoring me again.
She spoke to me on occasion, usually to insult me. I was honestly surprised that Frank or Nina hadn't come to the house yet. I thought she would have told them how I had her locked in a room.
I took a deep breath and sighed. "Jillian, your food is going to get cold. I'm not warming it back up for you if it does."
I looked at the plate. I'd made her an omelet for breakfast. I added vegetables and some bacon on the side, hoping it might soften her anger toward me. I was doubtful, but it was worth a shot.
I wasn't doing any of this to be an ass. It was for her own good. If she tried running away again and the Council caught wind of any of this, we would both be in for a lashing. As badly as she thought this was, it would be way worse.
